Twin Cities radio legend 'Donuts' dies in Osceola

Michael Wegner aka "Donuts"

Michael Wegner, best known by his radio moniker Michael "Donuts" Douglas, died Wednesday after a severe injury to his head. He was 65.

From 1979 to 1994, "Knapp & Donuts" was among the hottest morning shows in the Twin Cities, eventually helping to establish KS95 as the country's most popular FM radio station.

Program director Chuck Knapp may have technically been the boss, but it was his on-air partner's homespun, and often cranky, personality, that defined the program.

"When he disagreed with a news story, he would take the paper he was reading from, crumple it up so listeners could hear and throw it away," Knapp said. "That was his idea of editorial commentary."

Wegner seemingly lived a simple life on an Osceola horse farm, but he was always up for an adventure, whether it was learning how to fly stunt planes or climbing on a bull in a rodeo

"My dad always pounded into me, 'Be an individual,'" Wegner told the Star Tribune in 1987. "One of the first stations I worked for wanted me to be Paul Harvey. That's bull. I've got to be who I am."

Wegner had had close calls in the past, including a recent bout with prostate cancer. He once fell out of a tree and laid in a coma for two weeks. But on Wednesday, his luck ran out. According to Knapp, his friend was on his computer when his wife went to bed. A few hours later, she heard an ominous sound.

When she went to Wegner's music room, she discovered that her husband had fallen down and hit his head on one of the speakers. He was pronounced dead at Osceola Medical Center. The reason for the fall is undetermined.

The family suggests memorials ot the American Cancer Society in Wegner's name instead of flowers. A visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Grandstrand Funeral Home in Osceola.

Wegner wished to be cremated. According to Knapp, the plan is to eventually sprinkle his ashes over a horse pasture.